Recreation center eyed

Because of the uncertain economy, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors decided last February to hold off on a study into the affordability of building an indoor recreation center.
Wednesday, the board took a tour of the former TMD Friction building with an eye at possibly using it for a recreation center.
The building is located in the Pulaski County Corporate Center industrial park near Pulaski County High School and not far from the county’s outdoor recreational facility – Randolph Park.
County Administrator Peter Huber told board members prior to Wednesday’s tour that there are three options to consider with regards to the building. First, the county could purchase it and market it for industrial use; second, the county could purchase it and use if for an alternative purpose; or third, the county could decide not to purchase the building at all.
If the building is purchased for something other than industrial marketing, Huber said the most suitable use would probably be a recreation center.
David Penn, who is in charge of maintaining the building, said it will most likely go up for auction in late January if it is not sold prior to that time.
Pulaski County Industrial Development Authority used to own the building. However, Huber said TMD decided it wanted to purchase the building from the IDA several years ago.
TMD Friction filed for the equivalent of bankruptcy in Germany in 2008. As a result, it had to merge its Dublin plant with a plant in Mexico, Penn said.
The Dublin plant shut down in May, leaving 140 employees without jobs. The building has been vacant since that time.
Prior to the tour, Huber handed out a computer-generated floor layout of the building depicting its potential uses for recreational purposes.
A second floor Mezzanine, which offers a nice view of the mountains, could be turned into a cardio workout area and already is flanked by separate locker rooms equipped with showers.
There is room for a 63,000 square foot future addition that could include an indoor swimming pool; and the existing plant area would provide room for three basketball/volleyball courts, some racketball and handball courts, a rock climbing area and indoor playground/ropes course, space for aerobics and other types of exercise classes, multi-purpose courts, indoor cycling, a weight room and workout center, an indoor walking trail and a senior activity center.
The facility also includes a 4,800 square foot cafeteria space.
During the tour there also was discussion about using some of the 8,300 square feet of office space for organizations such as the Agency on Aging.
Although the board held an executive session to discuss the matter following the tour, no action was taken.

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Recreation center eyed

Because of the uncertain economy, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors decided last February to hold off on a study into the affordability of building an indoor recreation center.
Wednesday, the board took a tour of the former TMD Friction building with an eye at possibly using it for a recreation center.
The building is located in the Pulaski County Corporate Center industrial park near Pulaski County High School and not far from the county’s outdoor recreational facility – Randolph Park.
County Administrator Peter Huber told board members prior to Wednesday’s tour that there are three options to consider with regards to the building. First, the county could purchase it and market it for industrial use; second, the county could purchase it and use if for an alternative purpose; or third, the county could decide not to purchase the building at all.
If the building is purchased for something other than industrial marketing, Huber said the most suitable use would probably be a recreation center.
David Penn, who is in charge of maintaining the building, said it will most likely go up for auction in late January if it is not sold prior to that time.
Pulaski County Industrial Development Authority used to own the building. However, Huber said TMD decided it wanted to purchase the building from the IDA several years ago.
TMD Friction filed for the equivalent of bankruptcy in Germany in 2008. As a result, it had to merge its Dublin plant with a plant in Mexico, Penn said.
The Dublin plant shut down in May, leaving 140 employees without jobs. The building has been vacant since that time.
Prior to the tour, Huber handed out a computer-generated floor layout of the building depicting its potential uses for recreational purposes.
A second floor Mezzanine, which offers a nice view of the mountains, could be turned into a cardio workout area and already is flanked by separate locker rooms equipped with showers.
There is room for a 63,000 square foot future addition that could include an indoor swimming pool; and the existing plant area would provide room for three basketball/volleyball courts, some racketball and handball courts, a rock climbing area and indoor playground/ropes course, space for aerobics and other types of exercise classes, multi-purpose courts, indoor cycling, a weight room and workout center, an indoor walking trail and a senior activity center.
The facility also includes a 4,800 square foot cafeteria space.
During the tour there also was discussion about using some of the 8,300 square feet of office space for organizations such as the Agency on Aging.
Although the board held an executive session to discuss the matter following the tour, no action was taken.